Conference ssdevo::rv

    
    Does anyone use a Ford Explorer for towing a camper?
    
    The brochure describes an optional tow package for about $350,
    but does not say what is included in it.  The salesman was unable
    to tell us.

                      <<< Note 12.562 by SMURF::WALTERS >>>

    
    Does anyone use a Ford Explorer for towing a camper?
    
    The brochure describes an optional tow package for about $350,
    but does not say what is included in it.  The salesman was unable
    to tell us.


	Find a new salseman...;-)

	Go onto the WEB and looks at the optional information in the
	EDMOND ( sp ) new buyers guide for the explorer. The towing
	package should list all of the options.

	I have the optional towing package on my 1997 150 and it included
	a 3.55 rear end, heavy duty shocks, tranny cooling system, 
	heavy duty radiator, bigger battery and generator, hitch
	and 7 pin connector. The truck is rated to tow 8,000 with the
	class 3 set up. You milage may vary on the Explorer. Like I
	sais, check the web, and find a saleman who knows what he's
	selling.

	Red

    
    Thanks,
    
    I have the Edmunds printouts right here, but it only specifies the
    axle changes, not the other stuff.
    
    This particular dealership has several in stock at invoice price
    but the equipment varies widely.   The ones that have a tow package
    also have a lot of stuff that I don't want.
    
    Colin
     

I have a '95 Explorer that came with the towing package.

It included a different axle, oil and trans cooler, (one of which already came
standard but I don't remember which) and a wiring harness (with relays and
extension) for a standard 4-pin trailer hook-up.

I added a class 3 hitch, brake control and 9-pin hookup.

    FORD has a book on trailer towing which included all models of utility
    vehicles, vans and trucks.  This booklet give the towing capacities
    (not including performance), towing packages; differences on towing
    weights considering vehicle, engine, transmission and axel.  be
    careful, however, because all the info in the towning specs ASSUME that
    your purchased the towing.  I have recently discovered that 1997 FORD
    trucks/vans that have the towing package already come with the hitch
    sufficient to tow the maximum for that vehicle.  Check to verify that
    the same is true for the vehicle that you are looking at.
    
    

    
    Thanks for the additional info.  I took the time last night to read
    all the notes in here, carbuffs, and cruised the web.  And guess what?
    I'm still no closer to a decision!
    
    Fortunately, we sold the Caravan yesterday.  The new owner intends to
    tow a single snowmobile, so he was happy as a clam with it (only
    20,000miles, and he got a bargain.)
    
    As I noted before, we have a 12' box Jayco pop up that is 2200 loaded.
    It towed nicely behind the caravan, and was not too bad in the foothills
    of the white mountains. But at 50mph on a mild incline we were getting
    some shudder from the torque converter.  
    
    I know that you can never have too much power, but then again, I don't
    have too much money either, so I'm considering a Jeep Cherokee Sport
    with the inline 6 4.0l and a tow package.  I put the Jeeps, Blazers and
    Explorers into a spreadsheet with all their specs, and found that
    The Jeep Cherokee seems to compete very well with the V6's in the
    Explorer and Blazer.  The base V6 in the Explorer is probably on
    a par with the Caravan.
    
    For all purposes, the tow specs are the same, at around 5000lbs which
    is twice the weight of the trailer.   In addition, the Jeep has
    better internal payload than either of the others.  The inline 6
    has a good pedigree and seems to be very torquey.
    
    I understand that the Jeep is not the most comfortable vehicle for
    long trips, and that it lacks many of the refinements of the
    others. I'm testing it against the Grand Laredo too, to see
    if I'm willing to go the extra few thou for the creature
    comforts.
    
    Getting up into the V8's means about $4k more, and you don't get
    significantly more power or much greater tow capacity.
    
    Does the Cherokee sound like a reasonable option?  The only reason
    I'm asking is that I don't see it mentioned much anywhere as a
    potential tow vehicle.
    
     Thnaks,
    
    Colin
    
    
    
    

    re:-1
    
    	Have you looked at vans at all, or just not interested in one ? The
    Ford Aerostar and Chevy Astro are both available with V6's and factory 
    4wd. It would definitly solve any cargo problems, especially the
    Aerostar, which comes in an extended version. I think both tow in the
    5000 lb. range and neither are quite as pricey as the SUV's.
    
    	On the Aerostar, the seats come out fairly easy, or you can fold
    them down. With the seats folded you can put a full sheet of plywood 
    in and still close the back door.
    
    	Ray

RE: 567

   I had a '88 Jeep cherokee wagoneer with the 4.0 liter engine w/towing
   package.  I towed a 18' Dutchman trailer (3700#, loaded) and did OK.
   around Colorado. 

   I know own a 94 Grand Cherokee Limited with the tow package that I
   purchased in 1995 with 36K miles on it.  The first thing I did to 
   this vehicle is to change over all the fluids with AMSOIL synthetic
   (engine, tranny, diffs and gear box) which cost around $500.  This
   was well worth the expense.  I love this vehicle and it towed my
   trailer a lot better than the inline 6 (4.0L) I used to own.  But
   if you're only pulling a 2500# trailer a V8 would be an overkill.
   What I like about these Grand Cherokees is that they are much heavier
   than the regular box cherokees.  The gas is not all that great on the
   V8s, but I average about 13 MPG with the trailer and about 15 MPG
   without it.  I did notice more sway with the 4.0L standard box Cherokee
   than with the Grand cherokee V8.  On a not so windy day, I have gone
   65MPH. on the long stretches of highway in Kansas and Arizona and never
   knew the trailer was behind me.  Also, the V8 Grand Cherokee has 230HP
   with a 300 ft.lb. of torque. The 4.0L I believe is 190HP with 230 ft.lb
   of torque. The V8 Grand Cherokee has a tow rating of 6500lbs, while the
   4.0 L has a 5000lb. tow rating.
   Whether you decide to tow with a 4.0L or a V8, I strongly recommend the
   auto tranny with cooler.  This usually is standard when you purchase the
   vehicle with the heavy duty towing package.  
   I prefer the V8 Grand Cherokee over the reg. 4.0L box cherokee when 
   pulling a load over 3000lbs.  If you're pulling a 2500lb load, then a
   4.0L Grand Cherokee or the regular box type Cherokee will suffice.
   Hope this will help in your decission making.

  /jerry

    Thanks for the tips.  I did consider both the Astro and the Aerostar.
    Both are good contenders for the job but we just don't want another
    van right now.  I have spent the afternoon test driving the Explorer
    SOHC V6, V8 and all models of the Jeep, just about driven the salesmen
    nuts, especially on the white-knuckle merging test.
    
    Turns out the 4.0L is actually 185hp in the Laredo, it's tuned to 190 in
    the cherokee sport.  Combined with the extra body weight of the Grand,
    the 4.0 feels sluggish if you drive it after the Sport.  The V8 is
    another matter, and I think we've decided to go for it.  At least we
    can upgrade to a small hardside with no worries.
    
    The local Ford dealership has a loaded Explorer V8 for $27500 with 4000
    miles on it, but I think the Laredo beats it on handling, comfort and
    ride.  It gives is a leverage point with the Jeep dealer though!
    
    All this has me thinking.  My dad towed a 2000lb hardside trailer for
    many years behind an old Ford Anglia 1200cc.  We;d go on three-week
    touring vacations with it and never worry about whether it could handle
    the load.  That was back when there were no highways and we drove
    everywhere at about 30mph.
    
    Thanks again,
    
    Colin
    
    
    
                                            

    
    I pull a 2600# Shasta hardtop camper with my Toyota V6 4Runner. The
    4Runner is rated 150hp and pulls the trailer without any difficulty. I can 
    easily tow 60-65 mph and will slow down to 50-55 on long steep inclines 
    like going thru western Massachusetts and into New York. The V8 would
    definately pull better but I just don't need the extra power especially
    the 99% of the time I'm not towing.
    
    Now when I upgrade to a 24' camper, 3600# dry weight I'm going to buy a
    new Ram, Dakota or Durango 5.2 or 5.9 V8 so I can pull Xcountry.
    
    Bill
    
    Bill